The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 67

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Three people stood still, speechless for a moment.

In a brief moment, Zhang Xiaoyuan's mind swiftly flashed through over ten ways to save himself, including kneeling down on the spot while hugging Eldest Senior Brother's waist, crying and pleading, and biting down on his teeth, claiming the money was from his father.

But when he thought about his father's secret stash of money... in the end, he couldn't come up with that excuse.

Unexpectedly, the first person to speak was Jiang Jianyu.

"I've never seen so much silver..." Jiang Jianyu murmured, "Xiaoyuan, where did you get so much money?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan started to talk nonsense, "My mother gave it to me!"

Jiang Jianyu: "This must be over a thousand taels, right? Why would your mother give you so much money?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan stammered: "To... let me eat better normally."

His voice gradually lowered. Even he couldn't believe this excuse. He sensed that today, he wouldn't get away with bluffing. However, to his surprise, Second Senior Brother wore a face of admiration as he exclaimed, "Being born into a wealthy family is truly wonderful."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

What, Second Senior Brother actually believed it?!

Despite being of royal blood, not just any wealthy heir could compare, why did Second Senior Brother seem so naive, marveling at a box of silver notes, laying bare the poverty of their sect at a glance?

Second Senior Brother believed it, so Eldest Senior Brother probably did too...

Zhang Xiaoyuan nervously lifted his head, glancing at Lu Zhaoming, who had an arm around him.

Lu Zhaoming maintained his original expression, slightly furrowing his brow. When Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at him, their eyes met. He asked, "Are you telling the truth?"

He gazed into Zhang Xiaoyuan's eyes. Zhang Xiaoyuan stuttered for a while, almost forcing himself to say, "It... it was a gift from my mother..."

But his voice trembled, nervousness exposing that what he said was an outright lie. The money definitely wasn't from his mother. With such a large sum, its origin raised suspicions, inevitably making people wary.

Lu Zhaoming understood now. "This money wasn't given to you by your mother."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Zhaoming: "Was it Elder Mei?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan bit his lip, unsure of what to say.

At this point, with no more excuses to fabricate, he couldn't come up with a reason for Mei Leng'an to give him money. Caught in a dilemma, Zhang Xiaoyuan lowered his head, remaining silent in front of Lu Zhaoming.

Jiang Jianyu finally grasped the gist of the situation. He pulled Lu Zhaoming's arm and whispered, "Eldest Senior Brother, this shouldn't be a big deal."

Lu Zhaoming told Jiang Jianyu, "Put the money away for now."

After uttering these words, he grabbed Zhang Xiaoyuan's arm and pulled him towards the room. Concerned about prying eyes outside, fearing someone might overhear their conversation and inform Lin Yi, Lu Zhaoming decided it was safer to discuss matters indoors.

Jiang Jianyu was satisfied with the task of collecting the money. Swiftly gathering the scattered coins, he worried that Lu Zhaoming might reprimand Zhang Xiaoyuan too harshly. He rushed into the room, finding Zhang Xiaoyuan standing with lowered head before Lu Zhaoming, seemingly mumbling an apology.

Lu Zhaoming asked him, "Why did Elder Mei give you money?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan whispered, "Because I told him about Lin Yi's situation..."

He spoke the truth, hoping Lu Zhaoming would believe him.

"For such a trivial matter, he gave you nearly ten thousand taels?" Lu Zhaoming raised an eyebrow slightly. "Fine, let me ask you again. Did Elder Mei voluntarily give you the money, or did you ask him for it?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan was taken aback. "Eldest Senior Brother! How could I possibly ask him for money?"

Jiang Jianyu hurriedly spoke up in defense of Zhang Xiaoyuan, "Eldest Senior Brother, Xiaoyuan is not that kind of person."

"Even if Elder Mei gave it to you willingly," Lu Zhaoming looked earnestly at Zhang Xiaoyuan, "a virtuous man must acquire his wealth in a proper way."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

This was money he earned through sweat and peril — how could it not be acquired in a proper way?

Lu Zhaoming: "Do you realize that your actions have violated sect rules?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan was bewildered.

Huh? Sect rules?

The ones he barely heard a short segment of during Hua Liuque's initiation?

He hadn't even heard the complete set of rules, so how could he know if his current actions violated any sect rules?

Moreover, wasn't everything he did for the sake of the sect and Eldest Senior Brother?

Zhang Xiaoyuan sighed and shook his head, feeling unjust.

Jiang Jianyu, anxious and sweating profusely, just wanted to stop Lu Zhaoming from continuing. He said, "Xiaoyuan is a first-time offender. A lesson would be enough. No need to invoke the sect rules."

Lu Zhaoming acted as if he hadn't heard. "Tell me about the sect rules."

Jiang Jianyu: "Eldest Senior Brother..."

Lu Zhaoming gave him a cold glance, and Jiang Jianyu immediately fell silent, hurriedly continuing, "Those who covet material possessions shall be punished with a wooden staff, thirty lashes."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

He toiled for the sect, and now, for no apparent reason, Eldest Senior Brother claimed he violated sect rules and wanted to punish him?

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt immense injustice and strong resistance. Biting his lip, he lowered his head, remaining silent.

"Master is not present," Lu Zhaoming said softly, "I'll oversee the sect rules in his absence."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was startled.

Could it be? Was Eldest Senior Brother really going to proceed with it?

Seeking help, he looked at Jiang Jianyu, who seemed equally distressed and at a loss. All he could do was hold onto Lu Zhaoming, "Eldest Senior Brother, Xiaoyuan is still young and a first-time offender..."

Lu Zhaoming continued his words, "Since it's a first offense."

He paused the rest of his statement, stood up, and walked to the side. Zhang Xiaoyuan clung to Jiang Jianyu's sleeve, looking at him with wide, distressed eyes. Anxiously, he asked, "Second Senior Brother, what do we do?"

Jiang Jianyu appeared even more flustered than him. "It's the first time I've seen Eldest Senior Brother so angry. I don't know either!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt doomed.

Eldest Senior Brother would undoubtedly return from the adjacent room with a hefty wooden stick to punish him.

After careful consideration, Jiang Jianyu suddenly placed a hand on Zhang Xiaoyuan's shoulder. "Xiaoyuan! I have an idea!"

Nervously, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked, "What is it?"

"If he really starts hitting you, just cry," Jiang Jianyu said seriously. "Eldest Senior Brother has a soft heart for you. If you genuinely cry, he won't be able to go through with it."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

What kind of lousy plan was this?

He turned his head and saw Lu Zhaoming returning with a ruler in hand.

A ruler...

Zhang Xiaoyuan swallowed hard, voluntarily releasing Jiang Jianyu's hand.

In his childhood mischief, he had faced numerous strikes from a teacher's ruler in a private school. The memories were vivid, and at the sight of it, he felt a chill in his heart. He immediately moved his hand behind him, shrinking behind Jiang Jianyu.

Jiang Jianyu still shielded Zhang Xiaoyuan. "Eldest Senior Brother, there's no need for this..."

Lu Zhaoming said, "Considering it's a first offense, I've reduced the punishment."

Jiang Jianyu: "But..."

"Jianyu," Lu Zhaoming asked him, "do you also wish to take the punishment?"

Jiang Jianyu: "......"

Without hesitation, Jiang Jianyu turned around and pushed Zhang Xiaoyuan out.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Zhaoming looked at him. "Extend your hand."

No other options left.

At this point, Zhang Xiaoyuan felt he could only resort to Second Senior Brother's method.

He slowly extended one hand.

Lu Zhaoming grabbed his wrist to prevent him from retracting his hand. Before a tear could escape, the ruler harshly struck his palm, causing him to wince. Only then did he realize Eldest Senior Brother had no intention of going easy on him.

Zhang Xiaoyuan, bewildered for a moment, felt a burning pain in his palm. Unable to express his grievance, he completely disregarded the "method" Jiang Jianyu suggested.

When he heard Lu Zhaoming ask if he understood his mistake, a profound sense of injustice filled his heart. He bit his lip, remaining silent. He didn't believe he was in the wrong and refused to admit fault.

Not admitting fault led to another strike on his palm, but this time it was less forceful. Lu Zhaoming was cautious, fearing he might genuinely hurt Zhang Xiaoyuan. Seeing Zhang Xiaoyuan biting his lip with red eyes, the third strike held back some strength.

Despite this, Zhang Xiaoyuan's palm was visibly swollen. Jiang Jianyu, not daring to advise Lu Zhaoming, was uncertain how to handle the situation. Instead, he turned to encourage Zhang Xiaoyuan to apologize. Filled with pent-up grievances, Zhang Xiaoyuan, irritated by Second Senior Brother's attempt at persuasion, finally burst into tears. As Lu Zhaoming struck again, Zhang Xiaoyuan's tear fell on his hand, and he shouted, "I did nothing wrong!"

Lu Zhaoming paused, lifting his head, only to hear Zhang Xiaoyuan continue.

"I just wanted to buy a sword for Eldest Senior Brother." Zhang Xiaoyuan felt incredibly wronged. "Where did I go wrong?"

The ruler was suspended in mid-air, unable to strike. After a moment, it gently descended, touching his palm. Lu Zhaoming maintained a stern expression, reciting, "Thirty."

He jumped directly from seven or eight to thirty. Jiang Jianyu cleared his throat, jumped up without a word, and went to find ointment, leaving Lu Zhaoming alone with Zhang Xiaoyuan. He seemed somewhat at a loss, and after a while, he spoke softly to him, "Have you ever thought about how many people you offended by telling Mei Leng'an about Lin Yi's matter? How many might want to retaliate against you?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan shrugged, not wanting to talk to Lu Zhaoming.

Jiang Jianyu returned with the ointment. He examined Zhang Xiaoyuan's hand. Fortunately, the injury wasn't too severe and would recover in no time. As he opened the ointment, Lu Zhaoming reached out to him. Jiang Jianyu paused, puzzled, and asked, "Eldest Senior Brother, you..."

Lu Zhaoming took the ointment from him and personally applied it to Zhang Xiaoyuan.

Jiang Jianyu muttered under his breath, "Well, the beating has already happened. Isn't it too late to apologize now?"

Lu Zhaoming gave him a cold glance.

Jiang Jianyu shut his mouth.

He looked back at Zhang Xiaoyuan, reached out, and patted his head. Although he initially wanted to comfort his junior brother, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

"Xiaoyuan," Jiang Jianyu was quite curious, "you said you took this money to buy a sword for Eldest Senior Brother."

Zhang Xiaoyuan, who hadn't cried initially, now shed tears and sniffled as Jiang Jianyu spoke. With teary eyes, he glanced at him, his voice slightly nasal. "I won't buy it anymore."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Jiang Jianyu cleared his throat. "Then, what about me?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't understand his meaning.

Jiang Jianyu patted his chest, eagerly asking, "If you want to buy a sword for Eldest Senior Brother, then... what about me, your second senior brother?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan remained silent for a moment, turned his head away, pretending he hadn't heard anything.

The hopeful expression on Jiang Jianyu's face vanished in an instant.

Jiang Jianyu: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"